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Background. Health research knowledge translation (KT) is important to improve population health outcomes. Considering social, geographical and cultural contexts, KT in Inuit communities often requires different methods than those commonly used in non-Inuit populations. Objectives. To examine the extent, range and nature of literature about health-related KT in Inuit communities. Design. A scoping review was conducted. A search string was used to search 2 English aggregator databases, ProQuest and EBSCOhost, on 12 March 2015. Study selection was conducted by 2 independent reviewers using inclusion and exclusion criteria. To be included, studies had to explicitly state that KT approaches were used to share human health research results in Inuit communities in the Circumpolar North. Articles that evaluated or assessed KT approaches were thematically analysed to identify and characterize elements that contributed to KT success or challenges. Results. From 680 unique records identified in the initial search, 39 met the inclusion criteria and were retained for analysis. Of these 39 articles, 17 evaluated the KT approach used; thematic analysis identified 3 themes within these 17 articles: the value of community stakeholders as active members in the research process; the importance of local context in tailoring KT strategies and messaging; and the challenges with varying and contradictory health messaging in KT. A crosscutting gap in the literature, however, included a lack of critical assessment of community involvement in research. The review also identified a gap in assessments of KT in the literature. Research primarily focused on whether KT methods reflected the local culture and needs of the community. Assessments rarely focused on whether KT had successfully elicited its intended action. Conclusions. This review synthesized a small but burgeoning area of research. Community engagement was important for successful KT; however, more discussion and discourse on the tensions, challenges and opportunities for improvement are necessary.

Although malnutrition and malaria co-occur among individuals and populations globally, effects of nutritional status on risk for parasitemia and clinical illness remain poorly understood. We investigated associations between Plasmodium falciparum infection, nutrition, and food security in a cross-sectional survey of 365 Batwa pygmies in Kanungu District, Uganda in January of 2013. We identified 4.1% parasite prevalence among individuals over 5 years old. Severe food insecurity was associated with increased risk for positive rapid immunochromatographic test outcome (adjusted relative risk [ARR] = 13.09; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 2.23–76.79). High age/sex-adjusted mid-upper arm circumference was associated with decreased risk for positive test among individuals who were not severely food-insecure (ARR = 0.37; 95% CI = 0.19–0.69). Within Batwa pygmy communities, where malnutrition and food insecurity are common, individuals who are particularly undernourished or severely food-insecure may have elevated risk for P. falciparum parasitemia. This finding may motivate integrated control of malaria and malnutrition in low-transmission settings.

This summary is a project of the Institute for Community Engaged Scholarship (ICES) at the University of Guelph, with project partners: the Catalyst Centre, SPARK Program at the University of Guelph, and Knowledge Mobilization Unit at York University. This project is part of the Pan-Canadian Research Impact Network. http://csahs.uoguelph.ca/pps/Clear_Research In the Inuit community of Rigolet, Nunatsiavut, Labrador, the environmental effects of climate change include changing weather and ice conditions and shifts in wildlife and vegetation patterns. When residents are unable to carry out traditional “on-the-land” activities, their connection to the land and emotional well-being are negatively impacted. Project support by Agri-Food and Rural Link, Mobilizing Agri-food and Rural Research Knowledge. A program of the OMAFRA-U of G Partnership. http://www.uoguelph.ca/research/omafra/partnership/KTT_and_IP.shtml

This summary is a project of the Institute for Community Engaged Scholarship (ICES) at the University of Guelph, with project partners: the Business Development Office (BDO), SPARK Program at the University of Guelph, and Knowledge Mobilization Unit at York University. This project is part of the Pan-Canadian Research Impact Network. http://csahs.uoguelph.ca/pps/Clear_Research A few weeks after lots of rain or melting snow enters the drinking water system, people are more likely to get sick from diseases carried by water. As climate change increases rainfall and rapid melting of snow in Northern communities, the risk of getting sick will likely also increase. Project support by Agri-Food and Rural Link, Mobilizing Agri-food and Rural Research Knowledge. A program of the OMAFRA-U of G Partnership. http://www.uoguelph.ca/research/omafra/partnership/KTT_and_IP.shtml